FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2021
Contact: Amy Starnes
Public Information Director, State Bar of Texas
(800) 204-2222, ext. 1706, or (512) 427-1706
astarnes@texasbar.com
Texas lawyers approve rule amendments in 2021 rules vote
AUSTIN—Texas lawyers approved all eight proposed amendments to Texas’ disciplinary and procedural rules in a monthlong voting process that ended March 4. The Texas Supreme Court now may adopt or reject the proposals approved by the bar’s membership.
For election results and details on the amendments, go to texasbar.com/rulesvote.
Under state law, proposed changes to attorney disciplinary rules must be approved by the Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda, the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors, the bar’s membership, and the Texas Supreme Court. On September 25, the State Bar board voted to petition the Supreme Court for a rules vote referendum on these eight proposals. The court ordered the referendum, and State Bar of Texas members voted via electronic or paper ballot between February 2 and 5 p.m. CST on March 4.
Attorneys cast a total of 19,823 votes, representing a turnout of approximately 18.5% of eligible voters. Attorneys who are active and in good standing with the State Bar of Texas are eligible to vote in State Bar elections.
“We sincerely thank all the lawyers who took the time to study the important issues at hand and exercised their right of self-governance to vote on these proposed rule amendments,” said Trey Apffel, executive director of the State Bar of Texas.
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The State Bar of Texas is an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Texas that provides educational programs for the legal profession and the public, administers the minimum continuing legal education program for attorneys, and manages the attorney discipline system. For more information, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @statebaroftexas, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/statebaroftexas, or visit texasbar.com.
